Preliminary budget includes a tax increase for Medford residents
The Medford school district introduced its tentative budget for the 2017–2018 school year.
“The budget is something that is always on our mind here in Medford,” Superintendent Joseph Del Rossi said. “It is not something that begins in the fall and ends around April or May. It is something that we are conscious of throughout the year.“
The tentative budget calls for an additional seven teachers to the staff, five of whom are special education teachers. With the growing population of children who will need special education as part of their Individual Education Plans, the need for these teachers required trying to reallocate some funds to hire the new staff members. The budget also includes increasing salary contract obligations, leasing five new school buses to replace older ones in operation, update and maintain the district facilities and replace a bell clock alarm at Cranberry Pines Elementary School that has been in operation since 1978.
“Our general fund tax levy increased by 2 percent,” business administrator Marie Goodwin said. “When you combine both the general fund tax levy and the debt service tax levy — in accordance with the bond schedule and voted by the taxpayers many years ago — the estimated annual increase for the average assessed home of $327,100 … will be $74.10 or $6.17 a month.”
“I am pleased with the fact that we will be able to maintain our programming, grow just a little bit, meet the needs that are mandated by special education and other mandates from the state,” Del Rossi added. “I am a bit concerned with the funding mechanism. For the past six years, our state funding has been relatively flat, which has required us each year to go to the taxpayer for some revenue. My question is if that is sustainable. I don’t think so. Sooner or later, something has to break here. What is Medford’s fair share? That would impact not only our school district with our programming, it would also impact the taxpayer by reducing their taxes.”
State funding to the school district has not changed a lot within the past few years. This caused the district to dip into the surplus it had amassed.
“I wish I did not have to go to the taxpayer for anything at all,” Del Rossi said. “I would be thrilled if we did not have to go to the 2 percent cap, but I cannot address all of the district needs by just relying on the state funding that has been flat for the past six years. Our bills are going up like anyone else’s household. Whether it’s utilities, or goods that we purchase, there is an increase in all of that.“
The public hearing for this budget will take place April 24.
